Kids Forward is working with a coalition of national and Wisconsin community organizations and legal advocates to learn how juvenile, criminal, and municipal court costs (fines, fees, surcharges, and restitution orders) are impacting Wisconsin’s system-involved youth and their families. Here is one way you and/or your organization can get involved!  

Wisconsin courts can charge families thousands of dollars when young people get into trouble with the law. If families can’t pay these costs, they may face consequences including having their tax returns or wages garnished.

Not only does this court debt contribute to the cycle of poverty and racial inequity, but it also increases chances of recidivism and the cycle of incarceration for system-involved youth.  

For these reasons, Dane County eliminated all juvenile court debt from youth and their families. The county found that already struggling families were experiencing stress and financial hardship, and that only a small amount of the fees assessed to families were collected.

We have put together a survey to better understand how such costs impact Wisconsin youth families. If you have experience with youth fines and fees, we invite you to complete it.

You can also forward the survey to any youth and families who might be interested in sharing their experience with costs and fees in juvenile, criminal or municipal courts.

To honor the time and experiences, respondents can enter to receive a $50 Visa gift card.

Contact

Carte’cia Weaver, cweaver@kidsforward.org